The Detroit Lions’ recent success has fueled speculation that their coordinators could be targeted for head coaching roles in 2025. With teams around the league searching for new leadership, both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are considered strong candidates.
Johnson has been a sought-after name for several years, but Glenn has seen a significant rise in attention throughout 2024. This uptick in interest stems from the Lions’ dramatic improvement on defense, a unit that struggled in prior seasons but has thrived thanks to a combination of general manager Brad Holmes’ talent acquisition and Glenn’s coaching.
Given Glenn’s growing reputation, Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone predicts that the Lions’ defensive coordinator may become the New Orleans Saints’ head coach in 2025. Scataglia highlights Glenn’s deep ties to the Saints organization. Glenn not only ended his playing career in New Orleans but also served as the team’s defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2020.
However, stepping into the Saints’ head coaching role would be anything but smooth. According to Over the Cap, New Orleans is projected to be $62.8 million over the salary cap in 2025, making it a particularly challenging situation for any new leader.
While the Saints’ financial outlook improves in 2026 with a projected $52 million in cap space, that number could shrink if they need to push money into future years to address the 2025 cap. This fiscal strain may hinder Glenn’s ability to make a significant turnaround, potentially deterring him from taking the job if other opportunities arise.
